Press Releases

More services for less cash with just 3% council tax rise

Date: 11/03/2008

High Peak Borough Council has agreed to a below average council tax rise of 3%. This compares with a rise of 3.2% last year.

pound coins

The increase of 3% is well below the retail price index of 4.1% and national average increase in council tax of 4%.

The majority of the council tax bill for High Peak residents is distributed to the County Council, the Police and Fire Authorities, with an average of just £133 per year per person going towards Borough Council services.

The budget for the next 12 months will enable an investment programme of over £7.5 million. This includes money set aside to:

  1. Secure funding to build more affordable homes for rent, shared ownership and to help people get onto the housing ladder;
  2. Drive the regeneration of our towns by:
    • Facilitating the Buxton Crescent and Thermal Spa Project;
    • Investing in the Pavilion Gardens Complex;
    • Investigating the best ways of improving and regenerating the Whaley Bridge canal basin and nearby areas;
    • Facilitating appropriate development at Woods Mill, Glossop;
    • Considering offers for Easton House, to achieve the maximum benefit for Glossop; and
    • Safeguarding the future of Glossop Town Hall as a community asset.
  3. Limit the amount of household waste going to landfill sites in order to meet the Council's target of 37% of household waste being recycled or composted;
  4. Extend the range of recyclables able to be collected from the kerbside to include kitchen waste and promote increased take-up of the current green box and green bin recycling schemes; and
  5. Continue to make the Council more efficient through smarter purchasing, reducing property needs, modernising core computer systems and sharing some services through an innovative strategic alliance with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Councillor John Faulkner, Leader of High Peak Borough Council, said: "This year's council tax is the lowest yet, and at just 3%, this means in real terms, we are actually offering local residents more for less.

"We have some exciting housing, recycling and regeneration projects planned for this year and I am pleased to say that we are in a strong financial position to be able to resource these important developments."

Councillor Emily Thrane, Executive Member for Corporate Services, said: " We know what our residents want us to invest in and, through that consultation, have been able to identify their priorities in this year's budget. We are keen to continue to provide excellent services, which will be achieved by increasing our recycling efforts across the whole of the High Peak, investing in affordable housing and looking at more efficient ways of working, in order to save money and keep council tax low."

You may download a copy of High Peak Borough Council's Council Tax Booklet 2008-2009 here (1.4MB) PDF document.

For further enquiries about council tax, please telephone 0845 129 48 58, or email customer-services@highpeak.gov.uk.